CINCINNATI -- After a sloppy opening win, No. 11 Xavier spent its time working on defense. It was much improved the second time around.J.P. Macura scored 18 points and the Musketeers took advantage of 38 personal fouls by Buffalo, pulling away for an 86-53 victory on Monday night.The Musketeers (2-0) quickly opened a double-digit lead and got the balance back in their offense after relying on career highs for points by Trevon Bluiett and Edmond Sumner in their opening 84-81 win over Lehigh. Bluiett and Sumner had 13 points apiece on Monday.We took a step forward today, said Rashid Gaston , who had nine points and seven rebounds.The defense was much better, too, allowing few uncontested shots.Practice these last past couple days have really geared toward defense, Gaston said. We had to play more team defense.Buffalo (1-1) couldnt keep up with Xaviers quickness and quickly got into foul trouble. The Bulls trailed 42-22 late in the first half and had more fouls (23) than points.Two Bulls fouled out with 8 minutes left in the game, and Xavier went 28 of 38 at the line. Macura made all of his 10 free throws.Our team used Buffalos aggressiveness to our advantage, coach Chris Mack said.Nick Perkins led the Bulls with 15 points, and they shot only 31 percent from the field. Some of the Bulls complained about the many fouls called, but coach Nick Oats didnt see it that way.We need to learn to play defense without fouling, Oats said. Our guys said they got (bad calls), but those officials worked the tournament. They didnt cost us 30 fouls.With the big lead, Mack was able to use some of the freshmen who struggled in the opening win. Guard Quentin Goodin was tentative in the opener, but had 11 points and four assists after the coaching staff urged him to relax.I wasnt really scared, just hesitant, Goodin said. Tonight I played loose, started having fun, and it worked out. I just played the way I did when they recruited me.A LOT OF WHISTLESThe officiating crew of John Gaffney, Brent Hampton and Alfred Smith also called 21 fouls on Xavier for 59 total. The Bulls went 13 of 21 on free throws.TOUGH AT HOMEThe Musketeers improved to 218-31 at the Cintas Center.POLL IMPLICATIONSXavier slipped from No. 7 -- the highest preseason ranking in its history -- to No. 11 in Mondays poll, based upon the Musketeers sloppy win over Lehigh. They looked much better in this one.BIG PICTUREBuffalo: Blake Hamilton, the Bulls top returning scorer and rebounder, missed most of the preseason workouts with a broken non-shooting hand. He had 11 points and eight rebounds in a 76-66 win over Niagara on Friday. Hamilton fouled out against Xavier with eight points and three rebounds.Xavier: The Musketeers had three turnovers and defensive lapses in the final 61 seconds of their win over Lehigh, so holding onto the ball was a point of emphasis. They turned it over only nine times.The biggest part with the turnovers is we just had to settle down, Gaston said.UP NEXTBuffalo: Hosts Nazareth on Thursday, the Bulls only home game out of their first nine. Their next home game is Dec. 10 against Coppin State.Xavier: Plays Missouri on Thursday in the opening round of the Tire Pros Invitational in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.orgRoenis Elias Jersey .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Brian Dozier Jersey . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. https://www.cheapnationals.com/ .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. Adrian Sanchez Jersey .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Wander Suero Jersey . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round.PITTSBURGH --?Pirates rookie right-hander Tyler Glasnow was removed from his second major league start in the fourth inning Saturday with shoulder discomfort in his throwing arm.While facing the Philadelphia Phillies Peter Bourjos with no outs and runners on first and second base, Glasnow stepped off the mound and was met by manager Clint Hurdle and team trainers.Glasnow was then was taken out without attempting a warmup pitch and replaced by right-hander Juan Nicasio with the score tied 2-2.Glasnow allowed two runs -- one earned -- and four hits in three-plus innings with three walks and two strikeouts. He also hit two batters, including catcher Cameron Rupp, who left the game in third inning after being struck in the left ear flap of his helmet.Glasnow was recalled from the Class AAA Indianapolis earlier in the day..dddddddddddd He made his debut July 7 against the Cardinals and St. Louis and took the loss as he allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings.Catcher Elias Diaz was also recalled from Indianapolis while right-handed reliever?A.J. Schugel?was optioned to the same club. Catcher Eric Fryer was placed on the paternity list after his wife gave birth to twins -- a boy and a girl -- on Saturday.The 25-year-old Diaz underwent arthroscopic right elbow surgery May 3 after being injured in spring training. He has played in a combined 12 games at three minor leagues, hitting .341, after making his major league debut with the Pirates last September.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '
